Railroad-tie.



M. H. PENTZ.

RAILROAD TIE,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22 1915- 1.,l5,981 Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. H. PENTZ.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1915.

wwmgw IVIATHIAS H. PENTZ,

OF ROCKTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedlteb. 13, 1917.

Application filed June 22, 1915. Serial No. 35,565.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHIAS H. PENTZ, citlzen of the United States, residing at Rockton. in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad- ;lies, of which the following is a specificaion.

This invention relates .to improvements in metallic railroad ties, and more particularly relates to ties of this character having means contained therein for lessening and absorbing the shocks incident. to the passage of trains over the rails adapted to be supported by such ties.

As the principal object, this invention contemplates the provision of a metallic tie which while firmly positioning the rail thereon will surely absorb the vibrations caused by the passage of trains and thereby prevent such vibration from causing premature disintegration of the tie material.

A further object is to provide a rail cushioning means which shall be adjustable as desired and to further construct the tie so that it shall be essentially hollow, thereby saving the cost of manufacture without detraeting from the efiiciency of its operation.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed outin the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application. v

With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which like characters of reference designate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved metal tie made in accordance with this invention, showing'the rails in section,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the matter disclosed in Fig. 1;,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same subject matter,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section entirely through the tie and the rail supported thereby,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the tie on the of Fig. 4, j

Fig. 6 is a transverse section somewhat enlarged taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4, and Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the two telescoping portions of the tie proper.

lpon reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 7 and 8 it will be seen that each of my ties comprises a shallow elongated boX-like casing 10 in which there is loosely telescoped for vertical reciprocation the oppositely turned but otherwise similar member 11 formed as is the lower member from any suitable material such as steel and provided with the integral cover 12 of such size as to jut over the entire perimeter of the lower member 10, in order to form a means for limiting the downward movement of this telescoping member as will be set forth more fully hereinafter. The upper portion of the top 12 has preferably secured thereto suitable rail clamps 13 which are secured in position at the time of laying the rails 14. and which have the flanged extension 15 gripping the base flange of the rail in the customary manner. End straps 16 are positioned transversely of each tie adjacent each end thereof and have their extremities downwardly bent at right angles as indicated by the numeral 17,'such ends being formed with. the offset portions 18 by which they are secured through'the use of any suitable fastening means 19 to the sides of the box-like member 10, such straps serving to limit the upward movement of the telescoping member 11 when reciprocating as will hereinafter be described.

Immediatelybeneath the rails 14 are positioned blocks 20, each of which is provided with a series of cylindrical bores 21 adapted to receive suitable expansible coiled springs 22, such blocks being provided with flanges 23 apertured to receive bolts 24 by means of which they are reliably secured to the bottom portion of the box-like member 10, such bolts being countersunk as shown in orderto provide the desired smooth surface upon the under face of the tie. The springs 22 bear upwardly against a thrust plate 25 which is centrally apertured to receive a set screw 26 received in an appropriate recess 27 formed in the under face of the top plane indicated by the lines 55 portion 12 so that the thrust plate 25 is prevented from slipping in any horizontal direction and this means also provides a device for regulating the tension of the springs 22. Since four springs are illustrated hearing equally against the thrust plate with the corner points equidistant from the center aperture, one set screw will be sufiicient to properly position this plate in any desired spaced relation or against the undersurface of the top portion 12 thus effecting a great saving of time and labor when regulating the tension of the springs.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the eXpansible springs 22 normally hold the upper telescoping member 11 at its uppermost limit of movement as determined by the strap 16, such springs it will be noted in passing being of that strength and size as will easily overcome the weight of the middle upper portion as well as the weight of the rails and will furthermore give gradually to the passage of a train over the tie. It will also be obvious that with this comparatively few number of working parts there has been attained a result which permits of the use of metal ties by absorbing the inevitable shocks due to the travel of rolling stock over the rails and which has heretofore prevented the use of such ties, since the metal tends to rigidly resist such shocks and has heretofore been found to be prematurely worn for this reason. It will also be noted that the rails 14: are reliably and securely positioned upon the top plate in the usual manner while with the provision of the springs 22 seated in the block 20, there has been provided a sure means of preventing the working parts from becoming loose.

lVhile in the foregoing however, I have thus illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, such combination and arrangement of elements as consti tute the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to emphasize the fact that I may make such minor changes in the mat ters of proportion and degree, in later adaptations of my device as shall not alter the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A metallic tio including a box-like member, an upper telescoping member, a flange formed along the perimeter of said upper member for limiting contact with the edges of the first said member, blocks secured a (if 1,215,981

interiorly of the first said member and provided with cylindrical bores, resilient means seated within said bores in said block and adapted to bear upwardly against said upper member, and means positioned transversely of said upper member at either end thereof for limiting the upward movement of said latter member.

2. The combination in a metallic tie, of a lower box-like member, an upper telescoping member, limiting flanges formed on said upper member, straps secured to said first member and transversely embracing said upper member for limiting movement in that direction, spaced blocks secured interiorly of the first said member and provided with cylindrical bores, and resilient means interposed between said block and said upper member and seated in said bores.

3. A metallic tie including a box-like memher, an upper telescoping member, means formed on said upper member for limiting downward movement thereof, means carried by the first said member for limiting the upward movement of said telescoping member, blocks secured within the first said mem her, a thrust plate vertically alined with each block, means projecting through said thrust plate and operable upon said upper member to adjust said plate in spaced relation to the latter andto prevent horizontal movement of said plate, and resilient means seated in said bores and interposed between said plate and said block. a

4. A metallic tie including a box-like base member, removableblocks within said member near the ends thereof each having vertical bores or pockets therein, clamping means bolted to the base member and bearing against the transverse side of said blocks to retain them in place, resilient means supported within said bores and projecting beyond the tops of said blocks, an upper member overlyingsaid base member and slidable therein, an adjustable thrust plate above each blockand upon which said resilient means bear and adapted to vary the tension of said means, and strapssecured to the boxlike member and extending over the upper member for limiting upward movement of Copies 01!. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, D. G. 

